Trimming razor

ABSTRACT

A trimming razor has blade support edges of unequal lengths for the corresponding cutting edges of a two-edged blade. One blade edge is preferably less than half the length of the other blade edge, and both blade edges are preferably less than 1 inch long. A razor subassembly is also disclosed in which one of two interengaging body and handle members has an axial recess, with an adjusting knob rotatably supported in the recess. The knob is inserted axially when the body and handle are separated and is retained in the recess when the body and handle are assembled. Rotation of the knob moves a cap member into or out of a blade retaining position.

United States Patent Barry et al.

TRIMMING RAZOR James L. Barry, Bloomington; Terrance R. Mitchell, Minneapolis, both of Minn.

Barbers Hairstyling for Men, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn.

Filed: on. 3, 1969 Appl. No.: 863,619

Inventors:

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1914 Schaefer ..30/70 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS France ..30/346.57

[451 Mar. 28, 1972 Primary Examiner-Theron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-K. J. Ramsey Attorney-Frederick E. Lange, William C. Babcock, John J. Held, Jr. and Eugene J. Johnson [57] ABSTRACT A trimming razor has blade support edges of unequal lengths for the corresponding cutting edges of a two-edged blade. One blade edge is preferably less than half the length of the other blade edge, and both blade edges are preferably less than 1 inch long. A razor subassembly is also disclosed in which one of two interengaging body and handle members has an axial recess, with an adjusting knob rotatably supported in the recess. The knob is inserted axially when the body and handle are separated and is retained in the recess when the body and handle are assembled. Rotation of the knob moves a cap member into or out of a blade retaining position.

8 Clalms, 6 Drawing Figures Patented March 28, 1972- INVENTORS M mes L. 642m,

Teezmuce ,6 MITCHELL TRIMMING RAZOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to razors, and particularly to a trimming razor for shaving or shaping of critical areas, for example the edges and ends of a moustache or'of sideburns or the like. In such applications, the normal straight edge and safety razors are difficult to use with accuracy and in some cases are difficult to position for operative engagement with the desired area, for example in trimming a moustache portion close to the nose of the subject.

In some cases special separate razors of small dimensions have been provided in the prior art for special trimming jobs. It is inconvenient and time consuming, however, to change from one razor to another for different aspects of a particular shaving or trimming operation. There is accordingly believed to be a need for a special trimming razor particularly adapted for convenient use in different trimming operations without the necessity of changing from one razor or blade to another.

For the manufacture of trimming or other razors, there are a number of different razor subassembly constructions available in the prior art. Some of these include a combination of a razor body member, on which a blade is to be supported, with a movable cap member designed to move toward or away from the body member for selective retention or removal of a razor blade, together with operating means for such a cap member. Some of the razor assembly constructions of the prior art are expensive or difficult to manufacture or assemble. In some cases the operating means, such as an adjusting knob, is located at an awkward position on the handle, which requires use of both hands of theuser for operation of such a knob to move the cap member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a trimming razor is provided which iscapable of convenient use for'difierent applications. For this purpose, the razor has a two-edged blade so constructed that one of the cutting edges of the blade has a substantially different length from that of the other cutting edge. The-razor has a body member provided with a supporting head portion for such a blade. This head portion includes blade support edges of different lengths corresponding to the lengths of the cutting edges of the blade itself.

We have found that such a razor is particularly useful for special trimming work, if one of the cutting edges is less than half the length of the other edge, and if neither of the cutting edges is more than 1 inch long. The edges are desirably spaced apart by a distance greater than 1% times the length of the longer edge. In a specific embodiment of the invention, one of the cutting edges is approximately one-fourth inch in length and the other is approximately three-fourths inch long. The cutting edges are spaced laterally on opposite sides of the iongitudinal axis of the razor handle, and one of the edges is preferably spaced from the handle axis a perpendicular distance at least twice the length of that cutting edge. The corresponding support edges of the razor are similarly spaced from the axis.

The invention also provides a convenient and economical razor subassembly construction in which one of the two interengaging body and handle members has an axial recess into which an adjusting knob may be inserted and rotatably supported in the recess before the body and handle members are assembled. The members include portions preventing removal of the adjusting knob from such recess when the handleand body members are assembled in interfitting engagement with each other. A portion of the knob is manually accessible through one side of the assembly at a location close to the blade supporting portion of the body. Thus, the adjusting knob can be manipulated by the thumb or finger of an operator who is holding the handle, when it is desired to move the cap member into blade retaining or removing position. The adjusting knob is readily inserted in a suitable recess in one of the body and handle members prior to assembly of these two parts, and is retained in operating position within the recess by appropriate surfaces on one or both of said members as long as the handle and body members remain in assembled relation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing which forms a part of this application, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts,

FIG. I is an exploded perspective view, in brackets, of a trimming razor assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial detailed view, in section, taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, but with the various parts of the razor assembly in assembled, rather than exploded, position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view alongthe line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing how a razor blade edge is held between a support edge of the razor body and a retaining edge of a cap member.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing further details of the engagement between the cap member and razor body member with a razor blade in retained position between them.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified form of retaining means for maintaining the body and handle members in assembled position, and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the razor blade shown in FIGS. 1-4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS ing a suitable blade member 28. Handle 12 has its longitudinal Y axis extending generally perpendicular to the plane in which blade 28 is to be held by the supporting head portion 14, as shown by dotted line 59.

The body member 10 may also include appropriateopenings or cutouts 26 adjacent the support edges 16 and 18, so that hair or lather removed by the trimming blade edges may escape from the vicinity of the cutting edges themselves.

The razor blade 28, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, includes two cutting edges 30 and 32 which extend generally parallel to each other at opposite edges of the blade. Between the cutting edges,'the blade is provided with a central opening 34 adapted to fit the pilot boss 24 of the razor body. The blade also includes tapering sides extending between the ends of the respective cutting edges, and these sides are adapted to fit within the side flanges 20 and 22 of the body. The blade sides may be cutback or recessed as shown at 36 or 38 as part of a manufacturing process by which such blades are stamped out and separated from a continuous strip of blade material.

The blade is designed to be held on the blade supporting portion of the body 10 by a suitable cap member 40. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the cap member has blade engaging and retaining edges 42 and 44 located and designed to engage the upper surface of the blade close to the respective cutting edges 30 and 32 and to hold these portions of the blade firmly against the support edges 16 and 18 of the body member.

Cap member 40 is further provided with an axially extending stud or threaded shaft 50 which projects downwardly from the cap through the opening 34 in the blade and into a corresponding axial opening in the pilot boss 24 and body member 10. The upper end of this projecting stud or screw member 50 is secured within the cap member 40, for example by threading the member within the cap and providing a spot weld or indent at the upper end 52 to prevent rotation and removal of portion 50 from the cap member 40. .The lower end 54 of this threaded stud 50 is designed to provide interengaging cam means operatively connecting the cap member with an adjusting knob 56 for retention and/or movement of the cap member 40 in response to movement of the adjusting knob 56.

Knob 56 is illustrated as a generally cylindrical knurled knob which is located within and retained by a suitable recess 58 in one of the body and handle members and 11. For pur poses of illustration, the recess 58 has been shown as extending axially within the handle member 12. In this case, the recess has an open end 60, FIG. 2, directed axially toward the body member 10. The opposite axial end of recess 58 is shown in FIG. 2 as a closed cylindrical portion of reduced diameter at 62, having a closed lower end 64. A cylindrical projection 66 on the adjusting knob 56, of smaller diameter than the main portion of knob 56, is adapted to fit within the smaller cylindrical recess 62 for rotary support of the knob within the entire recess.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the body member 10 is provided with an axially extending opening 68 which is in general alignment with the longitudinal axis 59 of the handle 12. Body member opening 68 includes an enlarged cylindricalportion 70 with an open end facing the handle member 12. This enlarged cylindrical portion 70 is adapted to receive a reduced cylindrical upper end portion 72 on the adjusting knob member 56.

Knob 56 is further provided, at least at its upper end, with an axially extending internally threaded opening into which the threaded lower end 54 of the cap member projection 50 is adapted to engage. The screw-threaded engagement between the cap stud 50 and the adjusting knob 56 provides, in effect, an interengaging cam means, part of which extends through the body member opening 68, for movement of the cap member 40 toward and away from the body member 10 in response to rotation of knob 56. In this particular case, the screw engagement between the parts is such that the cap member 40 may be completely removed from the assembly when it is desired to remove or insert a new blade member 28. As is well known in the art, it is also possible to construct the cap member, blade and body member in such a manner that the blade may be inserted or removed without complete disassembly of such a cap member from the body member 10.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, axial movement of the knob 56 in an upward direction, as seen in that figure, is prevented by a downwardly facing retaining surface or edge 76 in the body member, which engages the upper end of adjusting knob extension 72. Axial movement of the knob 56 in the opposite or downward directionin FIG. 2 is prevented by engagement of the upwardly facing surface 78 in handle member 12 against the lower edges of the main knob portion 56. Thus, as long as the body and handle members 10 and 12 remain in the assembled position shown in FIG. 2, movement of the adjusting knob 56 out of the recess 58, either axially or laterally, is prevented.

Suitable retaining means are provided to maintain the body and handle members 10 and 12 in assembled interfitting engagement with each other. In FIG. 2, this retaining means is shown in the form of a permanent bond 80, which may involve a solder spot, a spot weld, or some appropriate adhesive connection between the lower edge of the body member 10 and the upper edge ofth'e handle portion. In this case, the handle is constructed with two upwardly projecting laterally spaced arms 82 and 84 at its upper end. These spaced arms project axially from the handle toward the head member at opposite sides of knob 56, thereby providing at least one opening 86 (and in this particular case, two such spaced openings) through which the knob is exposed at the side of handle 12 for engagement by the thumb or finger ofa user. Spaced arms 82 and 84 also provide at least part of the main cylindrical recess within which adjusting knob 56 is supported for rotary movement. The intermediate openings 86 between such arms expose the edges of the knob 56 for convenient manual operation at a location close to the blade supporting head portion of the body member 10. Thus, knob 56 can be operated by the thumb or fingers of the same hand which is gripping the handie member 12, while the other hand of the user remain free to lift off the cap member and blade as needed.

FIG. 4 illustrates further details of the engagement between the cap member 40, a body member 10 and blade 28. As illustrated, the threaded stud 50 of cap member 40 is pulled downwardly in response to rotation of the adjusting knob until the upper edge 88 of the pilot boss 24 is engaged by the lower surface or spot face 90 of a downwardly facing central recess 92 in the cap member 40. Cap member 40 is formed of material having sufficient resilience and appropriate dimensions to insure clamping engagement of a blade adjacent the cutting edges, as illustrated in FIG. 3, by the time the central portion 90 of the cap member engages the end 88 of pilot boss 24, when the adjusting knob is moved to pull the cap member into clamping position. As shown in FIG. 4, there may be some space between the lower face of cap member 40 and the upwardly facing central portion of the head supporting area 14 adjacent the pilot boss 24, so that the central portion of blade 28 in the region of its opening 34 is free of clamping engagement at this point. Thus, the exact position and angle of the cutting edges of the blade at 30 and 32 are accurately determined by the location and configuration of the blade support edges 16 and 18 and the clamping portions 42 and 44 of cap member 40, as well as by the side flanges 20 and 22 and the pilot boss 24.

In FIG. 5, which is similar to FIG. 2, a modified form of retaining means for holding the body and handle members 10 and 12 in interfitting engagement is illustrated. In this case, the axially upwardly projecting spaced arms 82 and 84 on handle member 12 are generally similar to the upwardly projecting spaced arms 82 and 84 shown in FIG. 2, with one exception. The upper end of arm 82', for example, is provided with a short inwardly projecting detent 94, adapted to engage within a latching recess 96 in body member 10. Similarly, spaced arm 84' has an inwardly projecting detent 98 at its upper end for engagement within a latching recess of the body member. The material and dimensions of the spaced arms 82' and 84 are such that these arms have limited lateral resilience. This permits limited movement of the detents 94 and 98 transversely of the handle axis during assembly or disassembly of the body and handle members 10 and 12 by forcible relative axial sliding movement therebetween. The relative resilience and ease of transverse movement of the upper ends of arms 82 and 84' and the shape and size of detents 94 and 98 and of slots 96 and 100 may be controlled, as a matter of design and construction, either to provide a relatively permanent connection between the handle and body members, or to provide a retaining means which can be displaced and disengaged for convenient disassembly of the parts, either for cleaning or otherwise.

The size of detents 94 and 98 and recesses 96 and 100 have been exaggerated in FIG. 5 for clarity. It will be apparent, however, that the location and dimensions of these parts must be limited to permit axial insertion of adjusting knob 56 into recess 58 before the body and handle are assembled, either by freely sliding the knob into the recess, or by forcing it axially between the arms while the latter are temporarily and resiliently forced apart as shown in dotted outline in FIG. 5. If desired, other known forms of displaceable and removable interconnecting retaining means may be provided to permit assembly and disassembly of the body member 10 and handle member 12 with respect to each other. For this purpose, portions 94, 96, 98 and 100 may be cooperating portions of a bayonet and slot connection or of a screw-threaded connection.

FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of the razor blade according to the present invention. As shown in this figure, the parallel cutting edges 30 and 32 are of unequal length. They are spaced from each other by a perpendicular distance which is desirably at least W2 times the length of the longer edge. One of the cutting edges 30 is spaced laterally from the central handle axis 59 of the razor by a perpendicular distance which is at least twice the length of the cutting edge 30. In the specific preferred form illustrated in this figure, blade edge 30 is approximately one-fourth inch long and is spaced perpendicularly 1 inch from the axis 59. Blade edge 32 is approximately three-fourths inch in length and is spaced perpendicularly from axis 59 by a distance of three-fourths inch. Although some variation from these dimensions can be tolerated, it is preferable, for convenient use in difficult trimming areas, that neither of cutting edges 30 and 32 should have a length of more than 1 inch, and that one edge 30 should be less than half the length of the other edge 32. Specifically, in FIG. 6, edge 30 is only one-third as long as edge 32. Moreover, the spacing of cutting edge 30 from the handle axis by a distance which is more than twice (in this particular case four times) the length of the cutting edge places such a cutting edge in a relative position and location where it can be readily applied to relatively hard-to-reach areas to be shaven or trimmed.

According to the foregoing specification, the background and nature of the present invention have been described, together with some of the ways in which the invention may be practiced.

Now, therefore, we claim:

1. A trimming razor assembly having a body member providing a blade supporting head portion, and a handle member. projecting from said body member along an axis generally perpendicular to the plane in which a blade means is to be held by said supporting head portion, said blade supporting head portion including two generally parallel support edges of unequal lengths for the corresponding cutting edges of the blade means, said support edges being spaced laterally on opposite sides of the handle axis, said parallel support edges being spaced apart at positions providing support for cutting edges separated from each other by a distance at least one and one-half times the length of the longer cutting edge, the body member having an opening adjacent at least one of the support edges for escape of hair and lather from the corresponding cutting edge, the head portion supporting the blade means in arcuate position between the supporting edges, and the shorter cutting edge being spaced from the handle axis by a perpendicular distance at least twice the length of the shorter cutting edge.

2. A razor assembly according to claim 1 in which the perpendicular distance from the shorter cutting edge to the axis is four times the length of said shorter cutting edge.

3. A razor assembly comprising a body member providing a blade supporting head portion and a handle member projecting from the body member along an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of a blade to be held by said head portion, at least one of said body and handle members having a'recess therein extending along said axis and having an open end directed axially toward the other member, an adjusting knob supported in said recess for rotation around said handle axis,

the shape and dimensions of said recess and knob providing for insertion and removal of the knob through said open end when said body and handle members are out of engagement with each other, means on at least one of said body and handle members preventing axial and lateral displacement of the knob out of said, recess when said body and handle members are in assembled engagement with each other, said recess also having an opening at a side of one of said body and handle members for manual engagement of the knob'at said side, a cap member supported on said body member for movement toward and away from said head portion for retention and removal of a blade, said cap member and knob having interengageable cam means for moving said cap member in response to rotation .of said knob, and retaining means holding said body and handle members in assembled engagement with each other.

4. A razor assembly according to claim 3 in which said retaining means comprises displaceable interengaging means on said body and handle members.

5. A razor assembly according to claim 3 in which said body member has an opening in alignmentwith said recess and said handle axis, said interengagin cam means having a portion extending from said cap mem er through said he y member opening and having axially removable threaded engagement with said knob member. 1 6. A razor assembly according to claim 3 in which said blade supporting head portion has two generally parallel support edges of unequal lengths for the corresponding cutting edges of a two-edged blade, said support edges being spaced laterally on opposite sides of the handle axis.

7. A razor assembly according to claim 3 in which said recess is an axially extending cylindrical recess in said handle member with one end of the recess open toward the body, said body member having an opening in axial alignment with said recess, said interengaging cam means having a portion extending from said cap member through said body member opening and having axially movable threaded engagement within said knob, said body member having a retaining surface preventing axial movement of said knob out of said recess toward said cap member, and said handle member having a retaining surface preventing axial movement of said knob away from said cap member.

8. A razor assembly according to claim 7 in which said retaining means includes two spaced arms projecting axially from said handle member toward said body member, said spaced arms each projecting axially from said handle toward said head member at opposite sides of said knob, thereby providing two openings through which said knob is exposed on each side between said spaced arms, and said spaced arms at least partially defining said axial cylindrical recess in which said knob is rotatably supported. 

1. A trimming razor assembly having a body member providing a blade supporting head portion, and a handle member projecting from said body member along an axis generally perpendicular to the plane in which a blade means is to be held by said supporting head portion, said blade supporting head portion including two generally parallel support edges of unequal lengths for the corresponding cutting edges of the blade means, said support edges being spaced laterally on opposite sides of the handle axis, said parallel support edges being spaced apart at positions providing support for cutting edges separated from each other by a distance at least one and one-half times the length of the longer cutting edge, the body member having an opening adjacent at least one of the support edges for escape of hair and lather from the corresponding cutting edge, the head portion supporting the blade means in arcuate position between the supporting edges, and the shorter cuttiNg edge being spaced from the handle axis by a perpendicular distance at least twice the length of the shorter cutting edge.
 2. A razor assembly according to claim 1 in which the perpendicular distance from the shorter cutting edge to the axis is four times the length of said shorter cutting edge.
 3. A razor assembly comprising a body member providing a blade supporting head portion and a handle member projecting from the body member along an axis generally perpendicular to the plane of a blade to be held by said head portion, at least one of said body and handle members having a recess therein extending along said axis and having an open end directed axially toward the other member, an adjusting knob supported in said recess for rotation around said handle axis, the shape and dimensions of said recess and knob providing for insertion and removal of the knob through said open end when said body and handle members are out of engagement with each other, means on at least one of said body and handle members preventing axial and lateral displacement of the knob out of said recess when said body and handle members are in assembled engagement with each other, said recess also having an opening at a side of one of said body and handle members for manual engagement of the knob at said side, a cap member supported on said body member for movement toward and away from said head portion for retention and removal of a blade, said cap member and knob having interengageable cam means for moving said cap member in response to rotation of said knob, and retaining means holding said body and handle members in assembled engagement with each other.
 4. A razor assembly according to claim 3 in which said retaining means comprises displaceable interengaging means on said body and handle members.
 5. A razor assembly according to claim 3 in which said body member has an opening in alignment with said recess and said handle axis, said interengaging cam means having a portion extending from said cap member through said body member opening and having axially removable threaded engagement with said knob member.
 6. A razor assembly according to claim 3 in which said blade supporting head portion has two generally parallel support edges of unequal lengths for the corresponding cutting edges of a two-edged blade, said support edges being spaced laterally on opposite sides of the handle axis.
 7. A razor assembly according to claim 3 in which said recess is an axially extending cylindrical recess in said handle member with one end of the recess open toward the body, said body member having an opening in axial alignment with said recess, said interengaging cam means having a portion extending from said cap member through said body member opening and having axially movable threaded engagement within said knob, said body member having a retaining surface preventing axial movement of said knob out of said recess toward said cap member, and said handle member having a retaining surface preventing axial movement of said knob away from said cap member.
 8. A razor assembly according to claim 7 in which said retaining means includes two spaced arms projecting axially from said handle member toward said body member, said spaced arms each projecting axially from said handle toward said head member at opposite sides of said knob, thereby providing two openings through which said knob is exposed on each side between said spaced arms, and said spaced arms at least partially defining said axial cylindrical recess in which said knob is rotatably supported. 